Karen Shady

I am a happily married mum to 5 children, we own a large cropping farm in Victoria, Australia. Scrapbooking is my 'happy place' and this is where I share my creations. Thank you for visiting, and please stay a while and look around.

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Wednesday, April 25, 2012

My Grandfather the P.O.W

Hi,

Today is ANZAC day here in Australia. Its a time we all reflect, and pay tribute the the brave young men and women who fought and died for our country.

Both my Grandfathers fought in World War 2, my Grandad in the Navy, and my Grandpop in the army. I wanted to share these photos below of my Grandpop, taken during the war. He was only 19 years old, when he was captured by the Japanese in New Guinea. He was taken to Changi, as a POW and was forced to work on the Burmese railway. He remained a POW for almost 4 years. He saw so many horrific things that no one, let alone a boy so young should see. My Grandmother was back in Australia, and for 4 years, didnt know if he was alive or dead. She gave birth to my Dad alone, and my Grandfather didnt see his son until he was almost 4.

My Grandpop died when he was only 60, and the Drs said his early death was caused from all the stress that was put on his young body during those 4 years in the prison camps.

As a Mum to 5 children, 4 boys, one 19 and one 18 years old, I find it so hard to imagine sending my boys off to a war. How heartbreaking it must have been for my Greatgrandmothers, and all the Mums of all those boys. The bravery of these young men and women is amazing. I give thanks to every one of them for the sacrifice that they made, and continue to make. So that we may live in peace, and safety today.

Karen - this is the sort of quintessential ANZAC story that all Aussies and Kiwis deeply relate to. My grandfather fought in WWI in France and was never able to forget the horrors of the trenches, he suffered violent nightmares until the day he died at the age of 75. A life sentance one might say. He also lost a cousin in Gallipoli. War is such an atrocious thing - pray that we never have to send our sons away to fight for our freedom. Lest we forget - indeed.